When passengers on the “Fun Ships” of Carnival Cruise Lines want a keepsake of special moments with souvenir photos, they look to the Pixel Portrait Gallery aboard ship. Problem is, with 2,000 to 3,000-plus passengers on board and up to 20 photo shoots a day, it can be a challenge for passengers to find their photo. Not exactly how you want to spend time on your cruise vacation. Add to the challenge that new images are added to the gallery three to four times a day after each photo op, so the display space is constantly being added to and re-organized.
Color Reflections Las Vegas launched upon a creative solution to these challenges, calling upon partner Visual Magnetics.
Working together, Carnival Cruise Lines developed color codes and category names for each of the many photo occasions—such as embarkation, dining (by restaurant and time of day), event, activity, candid vs. formal, and more. From there, they identified the innovative magnetic-receptive MagnaMedia® by Visual Magnetics as a simple, stylish way to create signs that allow for a quick change out and keep gallery signage up to date with the latest photo shoots throughout the cruise.
Putting their VUTEk GS3250 UV direct to board printer to work, Color Reflections Las Vegas printed the signs on Visual Magnetics’ magnetic-receptive POLYeight® media. The media is easily applied and removed on permanently installed fixtures in the space to accommodate the ever-changing photo gallery. The permanent fixtures are printed with messages as well, giving them plenty of visual impact (even when they’re not covered by the removable magnetic sign).
Durability was a serious issue. Over a year later, the signs are still as beautiful as they day they were installed.
It took Color Reflections Las Vegas almost eighteen months to complete the print and installation of the new Pixels Portrait Gallery on twenty-four ships all over the country. “It was a welcoming challenge,” says Shannon Martin, director of Business Development for Color Reflections Las Vegas. “The Visual Magnetics system was a perfect fit for this project and very versatile in the things we needed to do to make this Pixels Portrait Gallery a success!”
Today the entire fleet of twenty-four Carnival Cruise Line ships uses the graphic system in their Pixel Portrait galleries. Cruise passengers receive a color-coded card each time their photo is taken; the card corresponds with color codes in the gallery, and passengers know just where to find that special photo. The improved signage and color-coding system has yielded pretty-as-a-picture results, helping Carnival Cruise Lines see an increase in souvenir photo sales.
